Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus

On March 28th, 2023, legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away after his struggle against cancer. In the years leading up to his death, Sakamoto could no longer perform live. Single concerts, not to mention sprawling global tours, were too taxing. Despite this, in late 2022, Sakamoto mustered all his energy to leave the world with one final performance: a concert film featuring just him and his piano.

Curated by Sakamoto himself and presented in his chosen order, the twenty pieces performed in the film wordlessly narrate his life through his music. The selection spans his entire career, from his popstar Yellow Magic Orchestra period to his magnificent Bertolucci film scores to music from his meditative final album, 12.

Intimately filmed in a space he knew well, surrounded by his most trusted collaborators and directed by his son, Sakamoto bares his soul through his music, knowing this may be the last time he can present his art.

“Heady deceptively simple beauty. Sakamoto says goodbye in a way that only he can, conjuring emotions we don’t yet have names for.”
[Indiewire]